Fastener.



No. 650,947. Patented lune 5, I900.

S. MUHLHAUSER.

FASTEN ER.

(Application filed Oct. 21, 1899 (No Model.)

WITNESSES /N VENTOH Mwm A TTOHNEYJ TNL NORRkS PETERS 00., PHOTO-LITHQ, mswwcmn. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIGMUND MUHLHAUSER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,947, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed October 21, 1899. Serial No. 734,297. (No model.)

fasteners for securing together two curtains or similar objects or two parts of a garment, blanket, &c. a

The object of this invention is to provide a fastener that is especiallywell adapted for the closing of the placket of a womans skirt and that is not liable to be rendered inoperative by a lateral force or strain tending to open or. pull apart the placket, but which is rendered,

inoperative by pulling the placket-forming parts ofthe skirtapart and downwardlysimultaneously.

With this object in view and to the end of providing a fastener for the purpose hereinbefore indicated that can be readily applied, that is exceedingly convenient in its use and operation, and comparatively inexpensive the invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a fastener embodying the invention and shows the fastener in an operative position. Fig. II is a right-hand side elevation relative to Fig. I. Figlll is'a-side elevation of the fastener and shows the two companion parts of the fastener separated. Fig. IV is an end elevation relative to Fig. III. Fig. Vis an inner side elevationof the placket of a skirt and shows the placket-forming parts of a skirt closed together bythe aforesaid fastener. Fig. VI is an inner side elevation of a placket and shows the latter open. Fig. VIIshows the two parts of a fastener embodying a slight modification from the fastener shown in the prec'edingfigures.

A fastener embodying the invention that constitutes the subject-matter of this application comprises a loop a and a cooperating button I), designed to be attached, respectively, to the different garment parts or objects that are to be secured together. The

loop a is composed of two wire coils c c of suit able length. The coils c c are arranged side by side parallel and close together. A pair of metallic sleeves e e, that are instrumental in forming opposite end portions of the loop,

embrace the coils c c and are composed, preferably, of a single plate d, formed into two sleeves by suitably bending the plate so as to d,snugly but slidably embrace the coils, so I that the coils and the sleeves can be adjusted endwise relative to each other, so as to lengthen or shorten the loop and so as to aocommodate the formation of a loop having the length required or desired relative to the length of the button that cooperates with the loop, and consequently forms the companion part of the fastener. Each plate d is provided, preferably centrally of its rear or inner portion and between the coils, with any suitable numberof perforations f to accommodate the passage ofa needle and thread in stitching the loop to the fabric of the curtain,

garment, or other. object in connectiorr'with which the fastener is employed.

The button Z) ofthe fastener has its head h composed of a wire coil of suitable length. The wire of the coil 7?. terminates at the ends of the coil in inwardly and laterally extending arms 9 g, that form the shank of the button, and the arms 9 g terminate, respectively, at their inner end in a wire-coil 7c, (in Figs. I, II, III, IV, V, and V1,) arranged pararallel with thehead-forming coilh and in line and extending beyond opposite ends, respectively, of the head-forming coil. The coils k k are secured in any approved manner to the garments portion, curtain, or other object in connection with which the buttonforming part of the fastener is adapted to be employed.

The formation of the sides of the loop by wire coils in the manner hereinbefore described renders the said sides elastic and flexible and accommodates the passage between them of the button, and the loop-forming part and button-forming .part of the fas- TOO tener, when hitched or fastened together by passing the button between the coils of the loop, cannot be separated by any strain or force that has a tendency to pull the said parts in alateral direction; but the flexibility of the parts will accommodate the pulling of the said parts apart laterally and longitudinally simultaneously, and the parts when they are thus pulled apart at one end will separate readily. The formation of the button-forming part of the fastener in the mannerhereinbefore described renders the same capable of bending in every direction, and the two coils formed upon the inner ends of the shank-forming arms of the button constitute suitable members for receiving cords or tape adapted to be stitched or sewed to the garment or object for which the fastener is adapted.

The fastener hereinbefore described is comparatively inexpensive and can be made of ordinary coiled wire that is a staple articlein the market. geously used in buttoning many kinds of garments or apparel-such, for instance, as skirts, horse-blankets, &c.-and is especially adapted for use in closing and fastening together opposite portions of the placket-forming part of a petticoat or skirt.

Figs. V and VI illustrate the placket of a skirt and a fastener consisting of a series of loops and a series of buttons formed in the manner hereinbefore described. Fig. VI shows the placket open, whereas in Fig. V the placket is shown closed. The loops to of the series of loops are attached to one partZ of the placket, and the buttons 1) of the series of buttons are attached to the garmcnts opposite part m. All of the buttons of the series of buttons are formed of a single piece of wire-that is, the coils 7L, forming the heads of the buttons, the coils k, forming those portions of the buttons that are secured to the garment, and the arms g, connecting the lastmentioned coils with the heads, are composed of a single piece of wire, and tape 0 is passed through the coils 7; and sewed or stitched, as at s, to the garment. One coil 7a is sufficient in connecting one button with an adjacent but-tou of the series of buttons. The loops a of the series of loops of the plackets fastener are all formed of two sections of coiled wire arranged parallel side by side and close togther. Metallic sleeve-forming plates (Z are arranged at suitable intervals lengthwise of the loop-forming coils, and one sleeve-forming plate is sufficient in the formation of the contiguous end portions of adjacent loops of the series of loops. The relative arrangement of the loops of the series of loops is of course such relative to the arrangement of the buttons of the series of buttons that each button shall be arranged opposite to a loop.

The invention comprises not only a single loop and cooperating button made in the manner hereinbefore described, but a series of The fastener can be advantabuttons and a series of cooperating loops formed as illustrated in Figs. V and VI.

In addition to providing opposite parts of the placket-forming portion of a skirt with a series of buttons and a series of loops, as hereinbefore described, the said parts at their upper ends are provided,preferably,with a hookand-eye fastening r or other suitable fastener that when rendered operative upon closing the placket will prevent an accidental pull downwardly and laterally upon the said parts of the placket affecting the operation of the aforesaid series of buttons and cooperating loops.

In Fig. VII is shown a fastener comprising two buttons and cooperating loops, and the buttons portions extending laterally from the inner ends of the shanks of the buttons and adapted to be secured to the garment or object for which the fastener is adapted are somewhat differently formed than the corresponding members in the remaining figures.

Vhat I claim is-- 1. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a laterally-flexible and elastic loop and a button having a laterally-flexible shank, and a head comprising a section of coiled wire, substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

2. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a laterally-flexible and elastic loop and a button having its head formed of a piece of coiled wire and having the headforming coil terminating in laterally and inwardly projecting arms that form the shank of the button, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a loop that is composed of two wire coils arranged longitudinally of each other and side by side, and a button having its head composed of a wire coil terminating, at each end, in a laterally and inwardly projecting arm to form the shank of the button, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a loop that is formed of two wire coils arranged side by side and connected together at the ends, and a button whose head comprises a wire coil that is arranged parallel with the loop and has its ends terminating in inwardly and laterally projectingarms that form the shank of the button, substantially as set forth.

5. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a loop composed of two wire coils arranged side by side and connected together at the ends, and a but-ton having its head composed of a wire coil that is arranged longitudinally of the loop and has its ends terminating in inwardly and laterally projecting wire arms that form the shank of the button and terminate in wire coils that are arranged in line, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a loop that is composed of two wire coils arranged side by side and close together; sleeves embracing opposite end portions, respectively, of the coils, and. a button having its head comprising a wire coil arranged to enter between the coils of the loop, between the aforesaid sleeves, substantially as and'for the purpose set forth. v

7. A fastener of the character indicated, comprising a loop that is composed of two wire coils arranged side by side and close together, and two metal plates instrumental in the formation of opposite ends, respectively, of the loop and formed into sleeves that snugly but slidably embrace the coils, and a button that is composed of a wire coil capable of being forced between the coils of the aforesaid loop and provided with a laterally-flexible shanln 8. Means for fastening together two parts or objects comprising two pieces of coiled wire arranged longitudinally of one of the aforesaid-parts or objects and close together, metallic plates formed into sleeves embracin g and arranged at suitable intervals lengthwise of the said coils, and a series of buttons secured to the other of the aforesaid parts or objects, and composed, respectively, of a wire coil, all arranged and operating substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

9. Means for fastening together two parts or objects comprising a chain or series of laterally-flexible and elastic buttons and a chain or series of metallic loops composed of sections of coiled wire and plates arranged at suitable intervals lengthwise of the said sections and formed into sleeves embracing the said sections, substantially as and for the pur MUHLHAUSER. 

